Less than a month before Christmas, the need across the city is greater this year, Dunedin charities say.
The June floods and an unusually long, cold winter have made it tough for many families.
Now philanthropic organisations are swinging into action to ensure everyone can enjoy the festive season - even with something as simple as a hot Christmas dinner.
Presbyterian Support Family Works had started preparing more than 200 Christmas hampers, communications, fundraising and marketing director Monica Lindemann said.
Gifts for teenagers - such as cinema vouchers - were in particular demand.
''We are anticipating a high demand for assistance in January,'' Mrs Lindemann said.
''It has been a very long winter and bills are high.
''January is particularly tough for families because of the cost of Christmas extras and school holidays.''
For people on low incomes, the lead-up to Christmas could create ''a strong expectation of joy and sharing'', Mrs Lindemann said.
But for those unable to enjoy ''extra treats'', there was a risk of the season reminding them of ''what they do not have''.
Director of Catholic Social Services Ian Donnelly said his organisation would contribute to the combined church's Christmas foodbank, which distributed Christmas dinner parcels to up to 400 families.
The Catholic organisation would offer free counselling services to low-income families and distribute ''hundreds of Christmas presents'' to needy children.
''We are very busy in the agency assisting low-income families right up to 10pm on Christmas Eve,'' Mr Donnelly said.
''Christmas and New Year is especially stressful for many families and they need professional help to cope.''
Dunedin support worker and nanny Tina Patterson (39) had been planning to collect Christmas gifts for charity ''for years'', but said she never seemed to get around to it.
This year she was moved to action after the ''horrible winter'' and had been overwhelmed with the generosity of her Caversham community and wider Dunedin.
''It started off just as me as an individual trying to collect a few toys and games and things for the children at the hospital,'' Ms Patterson said.
''I put it on my Facebook [page] a month ago and word got out and it's just become a huge collection.''
Ms Patterson's house is ''overflowing'' with books, stuffed animals and plastic toys for children. Bunnings had also donated kids' packs, which she would collect in the coming days.
''People started turning up on the weekend with boxes, so now I am giving to lots of charities, not just the hospital,'' Ms Patterson said.
''I've done caregiving work for 20 years. ... I see the hardship every day.''
- by Eleanor Ainge Roy
